Utilization profiles of VA homeless programs
Files
Date
2018-08-01
DOI
Authors
Byrne, Thomas H.
Tsai, Jack
Version
OA Version
Published version
Citation
Thomas Byrne, Jack Tsai. 2018. "Utilization Profiles of VA Homeless Programs."
Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has invested in developing and operating a continuum of various specialized homeless assistance programs, including domiciliary care, transitional housing, permanent supported housing, rapid rehousing, and others. Prior research has examined the characteristics, service use, and housing outcomes of Veterans participating in individual VA homeless programs (Tsai, Kasprow, & Rosenheck, 2013; Tsai, O'Toole, & Kearney, 2017). However, examining participation in these programs in isolation ignores the fact that Veterans are likely to be eligible for (and may access) multiple programs over time. Thus, it is important to analyze longitudinal data on use of all VA homeless programs together to understand how Veterans may use programs in combination, the sequence in which these programs are used, and for what periods of time.
In this study, we profiled how Veterans use multiple VA homeless programs over time. Further, we examined how their profiles are related to sociodemographic characteristics and other VA health service use. The results may inform continued development and program planning of VA homeless programs.
The specific aims of the project were: 1) to identify temporal typologies and pathways to Veterans’ use of various VA homeless programs; and 2) to examine Veteran characteristics associated with different patterns of VA homeless services utilization.